Within thirty minutes, the grand chapel had emptied out completely into the hot afternoon sun.
Only Mark, his mother, and two police officers remained near the front of the altar.
The news media had already parked three vans outside the church gate with cameras ready.
Groom: Mom, what are we going to do about the company loan payments tomorrow?
Groom's Mother: Shut up and let me think of a statement for the press!
Officer: Ma'am, we need both of you to come down to the station for questioning.
Groom's Mother: On what legal grounds are you holding prominent citizens like us?
Officer: Bank fraud and signature forgery based on the documents provided today.
Mark looked out the window and saw Sarah standing near her beat-up blue sedan.
A private attorney sent by Victoria's father was already standing by her side helping her.
Groom: She got help from the strongest law firm in the whole city.
Groom's Mother: That lawyer was supposed to represent our family estate this month!
Groom: We lost everything today, Mom, because you told me to lie to everyone.
The police officer placed handcuffs on Mark's wrists with a metallic clicking sound.
Evelyn tried to pull away, but another officer calmly took her by the elbow.
They led the groom and his mother past the ruined flower arrangements toward the patrol cars.
Outside, reporters shouted questions through the iron fence of the venue courtyard.
Reporter: Mark, did you abandon your newborn son to marry an heiress?
Reporter 2: Evelyn, is your real estate company facing criminal bankruptcy charges?
Mark kept his head down low as camera flashes went off in his tired eyes.
He saw Sarah buckle the baby safety seat into the back of her small car.
She looked up once and met his eyes with a calm and peaceful expression.
Sarah: Your money could not buy your way out of your responsibilities, Mark.
Groom: Please, Sarah... let me talk to my son just one time.
Sarah: You will have to talk to my child custody judge from now on.
The police doors slammed shut, locking Mark and his mother inside the back seat.